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"But thanks be to God" Paul writes in 2Corinthians2 v.14, "who always causes us to triumph in Christ ____ " He is referring to the practice ancient Romans had of honoring their victorious generals with a triumphal procession as they returned to Rome. The general would ride in an ivory gold-plated chariot sometimes with members of his family. The chariot would be trailed by those in chains who had been taken captive in battle as well as by plunder from their cities, and even samples of the animal and plant life common in the land of the enemy. The senators and important figures of Roman political life would be on hand to witness the procession, and to protect them from the offensive smell of the perspiration the bodies of the captives were smeared with sweet-smelling ointment or incense was burned. A critic or naysayer was assigned who would also trail along behind the chariot and shout out the failures and faults of the general in the hearing of the public, in order to keep him humble and useful to the Empire in future battles. The ancient Romans wisely realized how all this acclaim could go to a soldier's head inflating his pride, and they wanted to prevent that. This image reminds us of how Shimei the Benjaminite cursed and threw stones at David and his entourage as they arrived at Bahurim. David could have had him silenced quickly and killed, but he allowed the ranting, suspecting that the LORD had sent Shimei and knowing that he was innocent in regard to Saul, who like Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin. (So was the Apostle Paul for that matter.) Notice how Paul's choice of words informs us that God is the one who" CAUSES us to triumph," we have not done it on our own. He goes on to say that through us is spread in every place the SCENT of knowing Him. It is the fragrance of Christ among us who are being saved and among those who are perishing, but in the actual procession that fragrance becomes the scent of life unto life to those benefiting from the victory, while it becomes the scent of death leading to death to those at whose expense the victory was won. Some of these captives pulled along behind the chariot fear that soon they will be killed by their captors, and often that fear is justified.
There is a wonderful passage in the 24th Psalm that refers to Jesus returning and being received as a victorious conqueror after suffering for us on the cross, dying, being buried, resurrecting and ascending into heaven. Remember that Jesus is the Lord of hosts, and hosts are angelic armies. He is the commanding general then of the armies of heaven. He could have called upon those hosts to intervene and rescue him at the cross but he didn't. The very scarlet robe which the soldiers put around his shoulders before mocking and beating him was the robe of a high-ranking Roman officer. They didn't know what a high-ranking officer (the highest) that he really was and is when they did that, they didn't know their cruel, mocking actions were prophetic in nature as they put a crown of thorns upon his brow and beat him with his own scepter. They didn't know He was and is and will be the King of all Kings, the Officer above all officers! In the 7th verse of Psalm 24 it begins to say, "Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors (and we are among those gates and doors, as are the angels) Then the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD (Yahweh wherever LORD is capitalized) stong and mighty, Yahweh, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in. Who is He, this King of glory?! Yahweh of Hosts (Armies) , He is the King of glory." Jesus was being celebrated and received at the right hand of the Father in Heaven for the greatest victory ever won, the victory at the cross over sin and death, and hell! This is the victory upon which our eternal life is forever built, this is the victory we could never win for ourselves, and from which issued the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit into our lives and our very beings forever! Jesus led "captivity captive."(Ephesians 4 v.8) He made a way so that we would never have to be dominated by sin or the devil again, but by which we can dominate them instead, in the strength of His name, the wonderful name of Jesus.
But, at the same time we must remember that for some in this world, for many actually, we bear and will bear the scent of death. The news we bring opens the door for some while closing the door for others. Because they don't want to be reminded of their eternal death which looms without repentance, they will reject us and that can be painful and unpleasant. But that pain and unpleasantness will be balanced by the joy and fulfillment we experience among those who receive the word we bring. There is a saying: those who are born twice only need die once (If the Lord doesn't return first), but those who are born only once must die twice. That is a tragedy and it is moving more and more of those who tell about it to tears.
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